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Severe storms, hail hit southeast Qld

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 16 November 2013 | 11.27

INTENSE thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hailstones are battering parts of southeast Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning on Saturday afternoon "very dangerous" thunderstorms have been detected near Maroochydore, Boonah, Caloundra and the area between Boonah and Beaudesert.

Tennis ball-sized hailstones have been reported in Buderim on the Sunshine Coast.

The storms are moving east-southeast and are forecast to hit Beaudesert, Marburg, Lowood, northern Lake Wivenhoe and Mount Kilcoy by about 1.25pm (AEST).

The severe weather is expected to affect Canungra, Mount Tamborine, Tamborine, Jimboomba, Ipswich, Crohamhurst, Maleny and Conondale later on Saturday.

Emergency Management Queensland is advising residents move cars under cover and secure loose outdoor items.


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Meaty tale launches Vic weekend court

THE first weekend sitting of the Melbourne Magistrates Court has opened with little fanfare - but was presented with the tale of a hungry couple and a packet of hidden meat.

Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen presided over the first hearing, designed to help ease overcrowding in prisons and jail cells.

Dozens of court cases have been delayed or adjourned this year because remand centres are full and prisoners can't be brought over to court.

One magistrate called the situation "so far beyond a joke".

Mr Lauritsen made no comments about overcrowding when he opened the Saturday sitting and instead heard its first case: about a 27-year-old man and his girlfriend arrested outside a supermarket.

The court heard the woman put a $20 pack of beef in her shopping basket on Friday before her boyfriend stuffed it down his pants.

Their Legal Aid lawyers said the couple ran out of money for food and made the "stupid decision" to steal.

Mr Lauritsen released the man on bail while the woman pleaded guilty and was released on a one-year good behaviour bond.

It is one of dozens of small-time cases that pile up over the weekend, backlogging the courts come Monday morning.

The pilot program could be extended until October next year if successful in reducing the backlog.


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US Secret Service supervisors investigated

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 14 November 2013 | 11.28

TWO US Secret Service officers are reportedly under investigation and have been removed from President Barack Obama's detail following allegations of misconduct.

The allegations, reported in the Washington Post, do not appear to involve a direct breach of Obama's security, but rather sexually-related misconduct, recalling previous scandals that have cast a spotlight on the service and its traditionally male-dominated culture.

The investigation stems from an incident during the northern spring at the Hay-Adams Hotel, an upscale hotel steps away from the White House, involving a senior supervisor responsible for about two dozen agents in the presidential security detail.

The newspaper reported on its website that supervisor Ignacio Zamora Jr was allegedly discovered trying to re-enter the room of a woman he had met in the hotel's bar after accidentally leaving a bullet from his service weapon in her hotel room.

After the woman refused to let him back in, Zamora sought access from hotel staff, who notified the White House, a Secret Service review found.

In the subsequent probe, investigators came across sexually suggestive emails that Zamora and another supervisor, Timothy Barraclough, had sent to a female subordinate, the newspaper reported, citing people with knowledge of the case.

Zamora has been pulled from his position, while Barraclough has been moved off the detail to a separate part of the division, people familiar with the case told the Post.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan declined to comment on the review or the allegations.

The Post said that lawyers for Zamora, Barraclough and the female agent declined to comment.

The newspaper said its efforts to reach Zamora and Barraclough directly were unsuccessful.

The elite service has sought to close a difficult chapter in its storied history that was blighted by a prostitution scandal last year during preparations for Obama's trip to Cartagena, Colombia.

Thirteen agents and officers were implicated after an agent argued with a prostitute over payment in a hotel hallway, pointing to a culture of carousing within the agency.

Obama in March named veteran Secret Service agent Julia Pierson as the agency's first female director, signalling his desire to change the culture at the service and restore confidence in its operations.


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Cop in Milne case biased, court told

LAWYERS for Stephen Milne have accused an ex-detective of being prejudiced in his investigation of rape claims against the former AFL player.

Former detective Scott Gladman denies the claims.

Milne, 33, has been charged with four counts of rape over an alleged incident at the Highett home of his former St Kilda teammate Leigh Montagna.

Despite the alleged incident occurring in March 2004, charges were only laid in June after a police review, and chief commissioner Ken Lay has said the initial investigation was inadequate.

At Milne's committal hearing on Thursday, defence barrister Philip Dunn QC said Mr Gladman was a prejudiced and mean-minded investigator.

Mr Dunn told Melbourne Magistrates Court Mr Gladman had wanted to be a "white knight" for the alleged victim.

Mr Gladman rejected that, and any claims of bias.

"Theatre, pure theatre; a complete fantasy," Mr Gladman replied via video link from Panama.

"I resent being called a white knight."

Mr Dunn accused Mr Gladman of ignoring key evidence that tended to exonerate Milne, which Mr Gladman also rejected.

"Absolute and total rubbish," Mr Gladman replied.

He denied making up an allegation that Milne had referred to "footy sluts" as he was being fingerprinted.

Mr Gladman said there was an incorrect perception that he was out to get Milne and had always believed he was guilty.

The hearing has previously been told Milne repeatedly tried to have sex with the woman, despite her objections, and that she initially thought he was Mr Montagna.

The hearing continues.


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Two secret drug labs uncovered in Brisbane

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 13 November 2013 | 11.28

TWO concealed drug labs and $170,000 worth of goods have been uncovered in a police operation in Brisbane.

Authorities charged 32 people with 98 offences during the 10-month operation, which focused on the production and trafficking of methylamphetamine.

Detective Inspector Geoff Sheldon says the operation hit significant drug distribution networks in Brisbane's south.

The operation finished on Wednesday, while more arrests are expected.


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Webjet expects no earnings growth

SHARES in online travel business Webjet have fallen after it said earnings would not grow in the current financial year.

Webjet currently estimates that earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation will be $21.5 million in the 2013/14 financial year, compared to $21.6 million in the previous year.

The earnings will include spending of about $3 million on marketing and its technology.

Webjet shares were down 11 cents, or 3.85 per cent, at $2.75 at 1500 AEDT.


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Elderly man found in north Queensland

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 12 November 2013 | 11.27

AN 87-year-old man who was missing in north Queensland bushland has been found.

He was clearing bushland, about 40km west of Ingham, with another man when they became separated about 9am (AEST) on Monday.

An extensive air and land search was launched and a helicopter spotted the man in the Mount Fox area about 1pm on Tuesday.

He is being treated at the location and will be taken to hospital after suffering from exposure.


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Number of Perth councils to be halved

THE number of councils in Perth will be halved after the West Australian government finalised its restructuring plans.

After initially proposing 14 metropolitan councils across the WA capital, Local Government Minister Tony Simpson has suggested a reduction from 30 to 15 authorities.

The main change to July's original plan will be to keep Fremantle and Melville separate.

But a super council made up of seven local governments in Perth's affluent western suburbs remains.

Mr Simpson says the tweaking of the plan proved the government listened to the community, but admitted not everyone will be happy.

"The easiest option is to do nothing. But with our population set to grow by 500,000 in the metropolitan area over the next 13 years, we must, no question about it, strengthen our councils," Mr Simpson said.

Cockburn council, which will merge with Kwinana, immediately voiced disappointment.

"If the government's changes go through, there will be substantial rates increases of up to 15 per cent, with businesses that fall under Kwinana set to pay around 10 per cent more in their rates," mayor Logan Howlett said.

In the face of opposition, Premier Colin Barnett has temporarily shelved a plan to override the existing 'Dadour provision', which currently gives public the power to veto any council mergers or boundary changes via a referendum.

The overall plans will be submitted to the Local Government Advisory Board, which will conduct a review and make final recommendations next year.


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Millions see chiropractors for back pain

Written By Unknown on Senin, 11 November 2013 | 11.27

NECK and back pain are the main reasons Australians visit chiropractors, according to a study published in Medical Journal of Australia (MJA).

The vast majority are adults, and one per cent are aged under one year, according to the study of 4464 patient encounters over about two years until September 2012.

This is the beginning of chiropractors documenting what they do in clinical practice, says Dr Simon French, leader of the Victoria-based study.

A range of conditions are managed by chiropractors, but these are usually musculoskeletal-related, he says.

Chiropractors also commonly provide care for people who have no specific complaint. "This is called wellness or maintenance care by the chiropractors in the study," says Dr French.

About three million Australians visit a chiropractor at least once a year, according to an MJA article about the study.

"This research is about documenting what chiropractors do. It's not about whether it is effective or not," says co-author Professor Jane Gunn, of the University of Melbourne's general practice and primary health care centre.

"People pay for this treatment either from their own pocket or private health insurance," says

"We did not review outcomes, but it is interesting that people pay for it themselves."

The findings of the study are not a surprise, says Andrew McNamara, CEO of the Chiropractors Association of Australia.

"But it is worthwhile to get a handle on what people are seeking from chiropractors."

He says there is strong evidence in relation to neck, back and headache treatment.

But there are other areas that are not so well understood, and the association is funding further research that will track a large group of patients over a number of years.

"There is also a need for more research into the benefits or otherwise for children.

"The fact that we have parents and practitioners reporting good clinical outcomes for kids with colic for example does not mean the question is settled. There is a need for more evidence," he says.


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Orica forecasts further profit growth

Chemicals company Orica has posted a full year profit of more than $600 million. Source: AAP

EXPLOSIVES and chemicals supplier Orica expects higher profits in 2014 as key North American coal markets improve, and the company sells more sophisticated explosives and blasting systems.

The North American coal sector - one of Orica's biggest markets for explosives - built up stockpiles of coal over 2012, but those stockpiles had since diminished, chief executive Ian Smith said.

"What we're seeing in North America is coal volumes starting to come back, and we'll see a progression, hopefully, over the 2014 year to normal levels," Mr Smith said.

Orica would benefit, should prices for thermal coal rise.

Mr Smith said it would be hard for Orica to maintain its sales volumes should the Australian dollar remain too high, and if prices of thermal coal were to drop.

But he said that by the end of 2014 Orica could be a position to return more cash to shareholders via capital management initiatives.

There were also signs of improvement in the quarrying and construction markets in Europe, Mr Smith said.

Orica expects net profit in 2013/14, before material items, to exceed the $602 million it made in the 12 months to September 30, 2013.

But it said market conditions were still volatile.

Shares in Orica were up $2.07, or 10.6 per cent, at $21.61 at 1510 AEDT.

Orica's 2012/13 profit was up more than 49 per cent from the previous year's $403 million, which was skewed by $247 million in writedowns.

The 2012/13 profit was down $48 million on the prior year, if the writedowns are excluded.

Revenue grew by 3.4 per cent to $6.9 billion despite weakness in demand for Orica's ground support products and services, which provides specialist bolts, resins and powders.

Explosives generated more revenue in all regions as Orica provided more sophisticated and more profitable products, such as emulsion explosives, which could be used in a wider range of operational environments, such as wet weather and blastholes with water in them.

Orica said it was adding services to product sales - such as new blasting techniques - which was attracting new customers.

Mr Smith said ground support services experienced weaker demand as users chose cheaper, less sophisticated ground support systems.

But Orica had restructured the ground support services business - cutting jobs, closing plants, writing off stock and discontinuing unprofitable products - and the business was now set for improvement as the US coal market improves.


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Palmer sick ahead of first parliament week

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 10 November 2013 | 11.54

BILLIONAIRE federal MP Clive Palmer could call in sick for his first week of parliament after coming down with a cold.

The eccentric mining magnate failed to front for a scheduled interview with Network Ten's Meet The Press on Sunday morning.

When contacted by AAP for the reason behind his no-show, an ill-sounding Mr Palmer advised he had a cold.

Mr Palmer said he couldn't guarantee he would be in Canberra for his first day of federal parliament on Tuesday, saying he would see a doctor in the meantime.

Asked if he intended to attend every day of parliament over the coming weeks, Mr Palmer replied: "I'll meet my requirements".

Late last month Mr Palmer won the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax after a recount with a final margin of 53 votes, almost eight weeks after the federal election.

New MPs are due to be sworn in at 10.55 (AEDT) on Tuesday.


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Australian among Philippines storm dead

An Australian man, believed to be a former priest, has been killed by a typhoon in the Philippines. Source: AAP

AN Australian man is among the hundreds killed by a super typhoon in the Philippines.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed the death of a 50-year-old NSW man in Typhoon Haiyan.

"Consular officials are providing assistance to his family," a DFAT spokesperson said.

It's believed the man was former Australian priest Kevin Lee but DFAT has declined to confirm his identity.

Mr Lee, a whistleblower about child sex abuse in the Catholic church, has been living in the Philippines with his wife.

Officials fear the death toll in the Philippines could reach 10,000 people after Haiyan tore into the eastern islands of Leyte and Samar on Friday.

Sustained winds of around 315km/h made it the strongest typhoon in the world this year and one of the most intense ever to hit land.

The Abbott government has pledged nearly $400,000 worth of emergency aid to devastated communities and says it stands ready to do more.

DFAT says it is monitoring the situation closely.

"We are working with our partners, including in the Philippine government, to obtain more information on the extent of damage caused," the spokesperson said.

Two Australian disaster experts are already on the ground assisting the Philippine government and United Nations to assess needs.

DFAT says Australians concerned for the welfare of family and friends in the region should first attempt to contact them directly.

If unsuccessful, they should call DFAT's 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 or +612 6261 3305.


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